Estella’s attitude toward Pip remains unchanged and her warnings not to care for her continue. She tells him that she deceives and entraps all men but him. Pip accompanies her on a number of visits to Satis House, which continue to be painful because of Miss Havisham’s vengefulness and Estella’s indifference. Pip concludes that Miss Havisham will not make Estella his until she has had enough revenge. On one of these visits, Pip witnesses an argument between the two women. Estella is tired of Miss Havisham’s clinging and pulls back. Hurt, Miss Havisham accuses her of being ungrateful and unloving. Estella points out that she is grateful and obedient but that giving love is the one thing she cannot do as she was not taught it. Miss Havisham is miserable and it becomes apparent that her plans have backfired. While Pip never again sees the two women argue, he notices an element of fear in Miss Havisham now. He is also upset because, as he discovers on his return to London, Drummle has been courting Estella.
At twenty-three, Pip has completed his time with Mr. Pocket, and now lives with Herbert in a flat at the Temple, a building near the Thames mostly occupied by lawyers and law students. He is unable to stick with anything except reading, and is restless and uncertain about his future and his wealth. Herbert is doing well with Clarriker and is away on business. The weather has been wretched, cold, and stormy and on one particularly miserable night, a stranger arrives at Pip’s home. The stranger knows Pip’s name and is happy to see him. Pip is at first afraid of the stranger, then repulsed when he recognizes the man is his convict from years ago. The convict is pleased to see how well Pip has grown and thrilled to see he is such a gentleman. Pip encourages him to leave, but seeing tears in the man’s eyes, softens, and offers him a drink. In the course of their conversation, the convict reveals that he is the source of Pip’s expectations, his way of rewarding Pip for helping him on the marshes. He wanted to make Pip a gentleman who could live an easy, upper-class life. Pip is revolted and depressed. He realizes now that Miss Havisham is not his benefactor, Estella can never be his, and worst of all, he has deserted Joe for the money of a convict. He is also fearful because the convict came back to England to see Pip and will be hanged if he’s caught.
